Week in Review - June 12, 2015

WEEK IN REVIEW

NewNASETPublications and Articles of Interest in Special Education and Disabilities That Were Reported This Week

June 12, 2015 - Vol 11, Issue 24

 

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In This Issue

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

 

 

 

Dear NASET News,

Welcome toNASET'sWEEK in REVIEWHere, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASETto read and or download, as well as some of the most interesting articles that have happened this week in the field of special education. We hope you enjoy this publication.  Feel free to send us articles for this publication or let us know your thoughts about theWEEK in REVIEWatnews@naset.org.Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,


NASETNews Team

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New This Week on NASET

NASET's Parent Teacher Conference Handout
What is a Music Therapy?

Introduction
From time to time your students may receive related services to help them deal with their present special education situation. There are time when parents may not fully understand what exactly a related service does. ThisParent Teacher Conference Handoutexplains to parent what the roll of music therapy will be if their child has it on his/her IEP.


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SeeNASET'sLatest Job Listings

Pesticides Linked to ADHD, Study Says

There's evidence -- but not proof -- of a link between a commonly used household pesticide and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and young teens, according to a new study. Specifically, researchers found an association between exposure to pyrethroid pesticides and ADHD, as well as ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity and impulsivity. The link between the pesticides and ADHD was stronger in boys than in girls, according to the findings published online in the journal Environmental Health. However, researchers only found an association between pesticides and ADHD. The study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. To read more,click here

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NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee.  AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

 

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

Feds Launch Financial Effort Aimed At People With Disabilities

With a first-of-its-kind effort, federal officials are looking to provide hands-on assistance to help people with disabilities become more financially independent. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said this week said that it will launch the ROADS to Financial Independence initiative as a pilot program in six communities across the nation. Through local partner agencies, individuals with disabilities who are currently working or transitioning into the workforce will be offered access to financial counseling alongside employment, independent living and other more traditional support services. To read more,click here

'Fracking' Linked to Low Birth Weight Babies

Living close to a high number of "fracked" natural gas wells may be linked to an increased risk of having a lower birth weight baby, according to a new study of Pennsylvania birth rates. High-volume hydraulic fracturing -- also known as "fracking" -- allows access to large amounts of natural gas trapped in shale deposits. Natural gas wells using this method are increasingly common in the United States. For example, the number of these types of wells in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale rose from 44 in 2007 to more than 2,800 in 2010, the researchers pointed out. To read more,click here

Most Teens Seek Health Info Online: Survey

More than eight in 10 U.S. teenagers turn to the Internet for health information, and just under a third have changed their health behaviors based on what they found online, according to a new survey. Teens following online advice sampled healthier foods, tried exercising when depressed and reduced how much soda they drank, the survey found. But the Internet still ranked fourth, behind parents, school health classes and health care professionals, in terms of where teens get their information, the study authors from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., noted. To read more,click here

Special Education Law Symposium

The 40th Anniversary of the IDEA: The Past is Prologue

REGISTER NOW: June 21 - June 26, 2015


Lehigh University's intensive one-week institute provides a practical analysis of legislation, regulations, and case law relating to the education of students with disabilities.The symposium is designed for special education coordinators and teachers, principals, psychologists, parent advocates, attorneys (on both sides), hearing officers, state officials, and other individuals interested in legal literacy concerning the education of students with disabilities.

The workshop is offered for graduate and continuing education credit. Weekly and daily options are available.  Full information is now available on our website:coe.lehigh.edu/law.  For any questions, email or call Shannon Weber or Donna Johnson atspecialedlaw@lehigh.eduor (610) 758-5557(610) 758-5557.

 

NASET Sponsor -  Special Learning

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TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Guess the answer to this week's trivia question and we'll recognize you in next week's Week in Review.
Congratulations to: Marilyn Haile, Shameem Banu, Pamela Downing-Hosten, Olumide Akerele and Rena Root
who knew the answer to last week's trivia question: According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the number of U.S. children and teens being treated for mental health issues has risen by about what percent in the past 20 years (with most of those kids having relatively mild symptoms, a new study finds)?  ANSWER:  Approximately 50%
THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
This corporate giant is looking to address the needs of a billion people with disabilities worldwide and putting big bucks behind the effort. It is offering up $20 million to nonprofits "using emerging technologies to increase independence for people living with disabilities." What is the name of the company?
If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, June 15, 2015 at 12:00 p.m.

NASET Members Only

Bullied Teens at Risk for Later Depression, Study Finds

Young teens who are bullied appear to be at higher risk of depression when they reach early adulthood, according to new research. "We found that teenagers who reported being frequently bullied were twice as likely to be clinically depressed at 18 years," said Lucy Bowes, a researcher at the University of Oxford in England, who led the research. The researchers found an association, not a definitive cause-and-effect relationship, Bowes said. "In our type of study, we can never be certain that bullying causes depression," she explained. "However, our evidence suggests that this is the case." To read more,click here

Risk to Baby From Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy Is Small, Study Says

Babies born to mothers taking antidepressants in late pregnancy may be slightly more likely to develop a rare circulation disorder, a new study suggests. However, the increased risk of the disorder -- known as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) -- is small, and similar to the risk in women with untreated depression. "Although we cannot exclude the possibility that there might be an increased risk of PPHN associated with SSRI [antidepressant] use late in pregnancy, our study has shown that the absolute risk is small," said lead author Krista Huybrechts. She is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. To read more,click here

Autism Severity Tied To Stress Levels

The severity of a child's autism may be directly linked with the level of stress or anxiety they experience on a day-to-day basis, a new study suggests. Levels of the stress-hormone cortisol remain significantly higher throughout the day in children with low-functioning autism as compared to typically-developing kids and those on the high-functioning end of the spectrum, according to findings published in the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. For the study, researchers at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. collected saliva samples three times each day over two different weekends from 43 kids ages 7 to 12. The group included children with no diagnosis as well as kids with autism and an IQ below 70 - considered low-functioning - and high-functioning individuals with IQs above 85. To read more,click here

Breast-feeding May Lower Risk of Childhood Leukemia: Study

Breast-feeding -- even for a short time -- may lower a baby's later risk of childhood leukemia, a new study suggests. The researchers found that babies breast-fed for at least six months appear to have a 19 percent lower risk of childhood leukemia compared to children who were never breast-fed or were breast-fed for fewer months. "Breast-feeding is a highly accessible and low-cost preventive public health measure that has been found in numerous studies to be associated not only with lower risk for childhood leukemia but also with lower risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), gastrointestinal infection, ear infection, type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life," said the study's lead author, Efrat Amitay, of the School of Public Health at the University of Haifa in Israel. To read more,click here

Scientists Explore Morality's Home in the Brain

Where does the human trait of morality reside in the brain? Researchers seeking to answer the question report that people with higher levels of moral reasoning have more gray matter in certain neurological areas. The research, from the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, included 67 of the university's MBA students who were given moral reasoning and personality tests. They also underwent MRI brain scans. The students were between the ages of 24 and 33, which meant that development of their brain structure was complete, according to the researchers. To read more,click here

NASET - Members Only Savings

NASET is pleased to provide our members with exclusive access to discounts on products and services. These savings are available to all currentNASETmembers. To find out more about savings from Life Lock, Avis, Budget, Cruises Only, Orlando Vacations and more -Click here

Improved Therapies Have Extended Life Spans of Childhood Cancer Survivors

Treatment adjustments have significantly increased the life spans of childhood cancer survivors in the United States and Canada, according to new research. Deaths among five-year survivors 15 years after diagnosis have been halved since the 1970s -- falling from just over 12 percent to 6 percent, the study of more than 34,000 people revealed. "Fifty years ago, only one in five children would survive cancer, and today over 80 percent are alive five years after diagnosis," said the study's lead author, Dr. Gregory Armstrong. He is a pediatric oncologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. To read more,click here

Exploring the Links Between Epilepsy Surgery and Academic Outcomes

A new study by a University of Toronto Mississauga researcher has taken the first-ever look at the academic outcomes of children with epilepsy who have had brain surgery, and found that they have a higher chance of struggling in class following their surgery. Psychology professor Mary Lou Smith was co-leader of a team of researchers who studied the arithmetic, spelling, reading and reading comprehension abilities of children after having resective epilepsy surgery, a procedure that involves removing a part of the brain in order to halt seizures. The patients completed standardized tests both before their surgery and about 14 months afterwards, and all received lower scores on the second test in the first three academic areas. The results, Smith says, challenge a commonly-held but false assumption that stopping seizures can free up brain power for better academic performance. To read more,click here

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Tougher Alcohol Laws for Adults May Also Lower Teen Drinking

New research suggests that as a state's alcohol laws get tougher, teen drinking rates drop -- even if the laws are targeting adults and not teens. "Nobody's ever looked to see how policies explain big differences between kids' drinking among different states," said study co-author Dr. Timothy Naimi, an alcohol epidemiologist at Boston Medical Center. "There's a strong overall relationship between [alcohol] policies and teen drinking, but if you account for the difference in youth-specific policies, you find the adult-oriented policies have an equal or greater effect on teen drinking." To read more,click here

Sleep Quality Influences Cognitive Performance of Children with Autism and Neurotypical Children

One night of poor sleep significantly decreases performance on intelligence tests in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and also in neurotypical children (without ASD). The researchers observed the EEG measures of 13 autistic children and 13 neurotypical children (children with a mean age of 10 years old without an intellectual deficiency or sleep problem and who were not on medication) and found that disruptions in protective brain waves during sleep are associated with lower results on verbal IQ tests.To read more,click here

Students With Special Needs Face Double-Digit Achievement Gaps

A new report finds that students with disabilities are faring far worse on standardized tests than their typically-developing peers. Scores for kids with disabilities ranged from 32 to 41 percentage points below those for other students on state assessments during the 2012-2013 school year, according to findings from the National Center on Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota. For the report, researchers combed websites for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 10 other areas including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To read more,click here

Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

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Melanoma Rates Dramatically Increasing in Children and Young Adults

The incidence of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, has increased by more than 250% among children, adolescents and young adults since 1973, according to award-winning research to be presented by Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 51st Annual Meeting in Chicago. The research has been recognized with an ASCO Merit Award. Analyzing SEER data, Roswell Park scientists determined that the number of cases of melanoma diagnosed in children, adolescents and young adults increased by 253% from 1973 to 2011. Survival rates also have increased -- from 80% for the period 1973-1980 to 95% in 2011. Female young adults appear to be at particular risk for melanoma, a trend that may be due to known risk factors such as high-risk tanning behaviors. To read more,click here

Census Records Sharp Rise In Disability Providers

The number of businesses devoted to serving the needs of people with disabilities is up dramatically and so are industry revenues, according to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. Between 2007 and 2012, there were more than 5,400 new businesses created nationwide providing caregiving and day services for individuals with disabilities and the elderly, bringing the total to 25,899. Growth in the industry meant that such establishments added nearly 300,000 new workers during that five-year period and revenues jumped by more than $9 billion to $34.4 billion annually. To read more,click here

Misuse of ADHD-Type Drugs Starts Long Before College: Study

Young Americans start misusing prescription stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall at an earlier age than previously believed, a new study says. The University of Michigan study suggests efforts to prevent misuse of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs and other prescription stimulants should begin in middle school. "We need to have a realistic understanding of when young people are beginning to experiment with stimulants, so we can prevent them from misusing for the first time," study author Elizabeth Austic, a postdoctoral fellow at the university's Injury Center, said in a university news release. To read more,click here

jobsNASET's Latest Job Listings

* Special Education Teacher-Communication Disorders Collaborative - Fuller Elementary School, located in Keene, New Hampshire, is looking for a Special Education Teacher for the Communication Disorders Collaborative (CDC). The ideal candidate will have experience teaching students that have communication disorders, often involving social/pragmatic language weakness, along with knowledge of the special education process and writing measurable IEP goals. To learn more - Click here


* Special Education Teacher - $125K Salary - Earn a $125,000 salary and join a team of master teachers at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, recently featured on the front page of the New York Times. To learn more -Click here

 

* Self Contained Classroom Special Education Teacher - Needed in Arizona (Phoenix and surrounding cities). Needs are in the self-contained setting serving students with emotional disabilities (ED), Autism (A), Severe/Profound (S/P), and Intellectual Disabilities (ID). STARS is the largest school contract agency in AZ. STARS is therapist owned and operated. To learn more - Click here


* Informational Technology Resource Teacher - is a full time, 10-month salaried employee who will work with students, faculty, and the administration to facilitate the integration of technology into all areas of instruction at Oakwood School. To learn more - Click here


* Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Teacher (Math) - SEED Miami is unlike any other school in South Florida. Its unique, college-prep learning and living environment affords a variety of benefits to both students and employees. To learn more - Click here


* Special Education Team (Elem, Middle, or High) - The Special Education Coordinator or Teacher is passionate about supporting the students who are at-risk for academic under-performance due to emotional and/or physical challenges so that they can succeed in the school's rigorous academic program.  To learn more -Click here

Food For Thought..........

When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had. And it is only when we are faced with failure do we realize that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives.

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

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